“This program contains violent content which may be too intense for some
viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.” – “warning” before The Walking Dead

Should a program which is so filled with violence, bloodshed, and gore that it
requires a disclaimer be considered appropriate for 14 year olds.

Cable network AMC thinks so.

The PTC has
previously
discussed AMC’s The Walking Dead. Yet another “zombie apocalypse”
story – well, the word “inspired” isn’t exactly appropriate, but modeled after
-- movies like Night of the Living Dead, the program features a tiny group of
human survivors trying to survive in a world filled with animated, flesh-eating
cadavers. While the critical establishment lauds the show’s intense character
interaction and emotional drama, one suspects that far more of its popularity
originates with the program’s horrifically gory and realistic violence.

To be stopped, the zombies must suffer trauma to their brain – thus giving the
program an excuse for graphic scene after graphic scene of people being
decapitated, impaled, and otherwise smashed in the head with axes, makeshift
swords, arrows, tire irons, baseball bats, and whatever other implements come to
hand. Naturally, each such incident must be shown in extreme (and explicit)
close-up, with blood spraying, bone and brain matter splattering, and the
attackers being covered in gore.

Many
scientific
studies have demonstrated the link between the graphic violence in video
games and violent behavior, especially in children. While a game-play element is
not present, viewing The Walking Dead gives kids as much or more exposure to
explicit violence (not to mention fodder for nightmares) as such games. If such
content were featured in a video game, it would be rated M (mature) or A-O
(adults only); yet AMC considers the program appropriate for 14 year olds. (This
doesn’t even touch on the repeated use of the s-word in a show rated appropriate
for the same age group.)

For viewers – especially children -- who watch The Walking Dead, zombies
aren’t the only ones who suffer trauma to their brain.

If you agree that this program was inadequately rated, please write
to the TV ratings advisory board at tvomb@usa.net
and let them know that the TV ratings once again failed to adequately warn
parents about inappropriate content.

For more information about the TV ratings, please visit
http://www.tvguidelines.org/.

Parents Television Council,
www.parentstv.org, PTC,
Clean Up TV Now, Because our children are watching, The
nation's most influential advocacy organization, Protecting
children against sex, violence and profanity in
entertainment, Parents Television Council Seal of Approval,
and Family Guide to Prime Time Television
are trademarks of the Parents Television Council.